EPK

Bio

Tsungai Tsikirai is an award winning singer-songwriter and dancer, born and raised in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and based in the United Kingdom. From lively African traditional to soul and ballads, her performances unite the power of the voice with colour, rhythm and movement.

She began performing at the age of 15 in her high school drama club, Iyasa Performing Arts Group, which grew to international fame. Tsungai toured with the company locally in Zimbabwe to begin with, but later took their performances to South Africa, Botswana and the USA.

Tsungai was soon scouted by Zimbabwean musician, Albert Nyathi, who she performed widely with, before going on to work with other renowned local Zimbabwean artists like the late Andy Brown and Nicholas Moyo of the arts council, who also provided mentoring and support

In 2002, Tsungai relocated to the United Kingdom where she continued to perform. She collaborated with performing arts company Siyaya and featured on their album, Futhi Njalo, and performed with them at Glastonbury in 2010. Tsungai was also a part of the UK gospel group Free to Worship, who she toured the USA with in 2014. She has also worked with Sheffield based choir, Sosa-Xa, being involved in their BBC Last Choir Standing workshops, and she also worked and toured with Tavaziva dance company, led by Bawren Tavaziva.

In 2011, Tsungai partnered with other artists from southern Africa and formed a performing arts group, Flame Lily Arts.

In 2014 she was awarded Best Music Female Artist 2014 at the ZIMMA Awards, and in 2015 Mporiro Festival awarded Tsungai for her contribution to contemporary music.

Tsungai launched her debut album, Rova Ngoma, at The Breaking Boundaries Concert in 2015, which was aimed at promoting cultural diversity, empowering women through arts and community development.

Most recently, she has featured at The British Museum's Faiths In Tune Festival, ZimFest Live and Nottinghill Carnival.

Achievements

Featured vocalist on Africa Rise & Shine (2017)

Contribution to Contemporary Music Award, Mporiro Festival (2015)

Best Music Female Artist, ZIMMA Awards (2014)

Touring lead vocalist with Free to Worship (2014)

Touring lead vocalist with Tavaziva Dance Company (2011)

Vocalist with Siyaya (2010)

Music

Tsungai released her debut album Rova Ngoma in 2016. It is a collection of songs inspired by her Ndebele heritage with a modern, contemporary feel.

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Live Performance Videos

Press

A natural talent and stand out success Tsungai glows on stage, with true energy warm powerful and angry. Alive with passion the soul of humanity is in Tsungai’s music. Dreams and vision flow through her into a world that is fighting to breath and understand.

With her beautiful mellow voice, she sang heartily in unison with Talking Guitars as if they had long been in a musical love relationship. However, it was her versatility that charmed many music lovers as she also threw in her own songs like Limkhululeni, title track Rova Ngoma and the famous traditional wedding song Londolozela.

The emotive impact is heightened by live vocalist Tsungai Tsikirai who sings in a native African dialect, intoning her words with sincerity and passion. She is never distant from the physical action, sometimes blessing, sometimes bewailing the dancers. Tsikirai and Anna Watkins make for a compelling duet, she pouring out her grief to her God, Watkins writhing face down at her feet. 

Another talented female artist who killed it was Tsungai Tsikirai and the Tega-Tega band. It was refreshing having her as she brought some diversity and infused some Ndebele and represented the City of Kings well.